Brow Down to Anastasia Beverly Hills

The most important thing to know about eyebrows is they aren’t some kind of one size fits all sort of deal.  Everyone has their own natural brow shape.  In order for us to achieve our most fabulous brows, we have to work with our arches not against them.

Color:  When picking out your color, you want to go either as close to your natural shade, or a hair (pun intended) lighter or darker depending on your newest hair color.  Otherwise, they will look too harsh.  Let’s put it this way: do you want people noticing your eyes or your eyebrows?

I prefer to use a brow pencil over a pomade for many reasons.  Most importantly, the look.  Our eyebrows are made up of thousands of little, tiny hairs.  Because the pencil is a drier formula with a fine tip, it is easier for us to create the appearance of tiny little hairs with it.  The other thing I love about the pencils, is they come in a wider variety of colors, so it is much easier to find the right shade for you.

The pomade on the other hand, is much more pigmented and creamier.  It can create a much more dramatic appearance on someone.  One of my biggest pet peeves about this product, is when people do not use it properly. They get too carried away, and create a look that makes the appearance that they just glopped all the hairs together into one big eyebrow.  Yikes!  However, if you do like the formula better, just make sure to use a very fine brush and not too much product. Use your brush to make hair-like strokes to create the illusion of hairs like you would with a pencil.

Whatever formula you use, make sure to use your spoolie to blend.  One of the keys to understanding flawless makeup, is blending.  You need to make your brow products and your brows come together as a whole to achieve your most natural look.

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara

OK, everyone listen up, because this mascara will dominate any other mascara you have ever bought.  I have been using this product for over a year, and I am still addicted to it.  Before this product, I used drugstore brand mascara that didn’t appear to be anything glorious.  I clearly wasn’t choosing the right ones.  This brought me to think, “How different can mascaras be from one another?”  I know.  I look back on this and think, “What was wrong with me?”  It’s embarrassing to think about…  Since then, I have tried many other high-end mascaras and none of them seemed to make the cut.

Well after I went through various mascaras and found my perfect match, I haven’t let it go.  This product thickens and lengthens your lashes and is a must have on a night out.  It will totally transform the way your eyes look.  It makes it look like you have more lashes than you do, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?

Let’s Talk Illamasqua

A couple weeks ago, I made an Instagram account (user name: themakeupcounter) for my blog.  I started following some of my favorite make-up artists, YouTubers, and make-up companies, and I was ecstatic to see that ILLAMASQUA followed me back!  So in honor of their fabulous products, I thought now would be a great time to write a blog about some of my favorite products of theirs.

When I think of Illamasqua, the first thing that comes to mind is their vibrant colors.  I love the way this brand is so bold and never afraid to take a walk on the wild side.  I chose these two Illamasqua must-haves for my fellow make-up junkies to add to their collections:

ILLAMASQUA Skin Base Foundation:  I love that this brand has created a huge range of shades that apply to all different skin types with different undertones.  This foundation comes in 26 different colors.  A-MAZ-ING.  I wish more companies would do this.  I cannot tell you how much I hate that crazy foundation quest for the right color.  People come in more than the eight shades some companies provide us with.  The fact that Illamasqua gives us more is exactly what we want and need.  This foundation works for all skin types, but I love it for the colder seasons when my skin is on the drier side.  It’s very hydrating, like a tinted moisturizer, but it has the coverage that you get with a foundation.  My favorite thing about this foundation is the finish.  It leaves this gorgeous, luminous, natural glow on your skin that makes your face look radiant.

ILLAMASQUA Intense Lipgloss:  Holy pigment!  This lip gloss has so much color that it’s almost like a liquid lipstick.  I purchased the color “Move,” which is a lilac/rosy pink lip gloss.  It is the perfect color if you want something on the more natural side, but is still giving you a lot of color.  I also love that this has a brush applicator as opposed to a sponge applicator.  I like the way a brush can get into little nooks and crannies to leave a flawless result.  This product is a non-sticky formula that delivers a lot of shine and a whole lot of pigment.

(Swatch of ILLAMASQUA Intense Lipgloss in “Move”)

On the list:  ILLAMASQUA nail polish.  These colors are so bright and daring.  I have to have them… and soon enough, I will.

MAC Huggable Lip Color

Photo from http://www.maccosmetics.com

So tonight I went to the mall to pay my Victoria’s Secret bill.  On my way in, I passed all the make-up counters in Nordstrom.  Now the problem with me is after I’ve walked passed those beautiful, lit-up counters, I can’t get them out of my head.  I started to think, “I’ll just go to MAC.  Maybe if I’m just around it, I’ll feel satisfied enough to walk away.”  The addict in me tries to find any reason to justify my visitations.  I saw the beautiful new poster of the brand new Huggable Lip Colors, and the color on the right of that photo is just gorgeous.  It reminds me of a Tom Ford lipstick I’ve had on my list, and I just have to try it on.  After the salesman cleans it for me, I figure it can’t hurt.  He says, “Oh my gosh.  That color is gorgeous on you.  You have to get it.”  I can’t help but think, “You are so right.  I do.”

This lipstick is perfect for the winter.  It is super hydrating and melts into your lips.  The color I bought is called “What a Feeling!” and I can’t help but think of that song by Irene Cara from Flashdance.  The amount of pigment is perfect for everyday wear–not too much, not too little.  There are 12 gorgeous colors to choose from–nudes, corals, and vibrant reds and fuchsias.  As for the packaging, I love it.  The graphite color and metallic shine is super sleek and gorgeous.  This lipstick is a must have for the winter.  The colors are spectacular, and the texture is perfect for this time of year.  I already have “Love Beam” on my list the next time I “attempt” to stay away from the makeup counter.

(Swatch of “What a Feeling!”)